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Showing posts with label re-purposing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label re-purposing. Show all posts

3.08.2024

faux spring leaves made from ribbon

spring,re-purposing,trash to treasure,natural elements,DIY,decorating,inspired by nature,tutorial,diy decorating,up-cycling,crafting,DIY leafy spring branches,faux leaves,fabric leaves.
my last post included these leafy branches
that aren't leafy branches at all!

the trees in my yard haven't yet put on spring buds or leaves,
so i had to find a way to turn some bare branches into props for photos...
i've done that before with paper flowers and paper leaves,
but this time i used a different material to make the leaves:
thick satin ribbon saved from gift baskets.

they turned out SO much more realistic than i had anticipated,
and i'm thrilled to share this idea with you!

continue reading for the easy tutorial...

2.23.2024

ease into spring with a faux moss wreath

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spring's arrival is just around the corner!
here's an easy way to ease into it...

i'm pairing my white fabric wreath that i created this winter
with a new element for spring - along with a few other items -
and i love how it bridges this 'winter into spring' time of year. 

even the smallest changes can reflect nature
and refresh your home decor in just minutes.
big changes are good - but they don't ALL have to be big.

continue reading for an easy wreath + decor tutorial!

10.10.2023

have a ball with these pumpkins!

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do you have a family full of sports fans?
oh, my friends, you're gonna' have a BALL with this idea! 😉

i was killing time before an appointment by walking thru a 'FIVE below' discount store,
and spied a bin filled with small basketballs in bright happy colors...
there was no yellow, but the minty green one caught my eye!

continue reading for tips on this SUPER fast & easy pumpkin decor project!

9.12.2023

repurposed crochet hat pumpkin

pumpkins,Sweet Sweater Pumpkins,fall,tutorial,DIY,diy decorating,up-cycling,re-purposing,crafting,thrifted,boho style,colorful home,decorating,granny squares,crochet hat pumpkin,fabric pumpkins,fall home decor, diy fall home decor, diy home decor, diy pumpkins.
i'm a hat girl. always have been. i love wearing them
and have a pretty big collection of hats for every season.
i have thick straight hair and on the many days when it won't cooperate,
i just pop a ballcap or sunhat or cloche on my head and fuhgeddaboutit.

the only hats i don't like on my head are beanies. my forehead's too big.
but when i found THIS beanie, i fell in love with it and had to buy it...
because the moment i saw it, i KNEW it had to become a pumpkin!
here i am using things in ways they weren't intended to be used again LOL

continue reading for my tutorial (which is much like my sweet sweater pumpkin tute)...

9.05.2023

a NEW LOOK for my Original Sweet Sweater Pumpkins!

pumpkins,Sweet Sweater Pumpkins,Sweet Sweater Originals,original designs,tutorial,fall,home decor,Better Homes & Gardens Magazine,Romantic Homes Magazine,published,sweaters,up-cycling,re-purposing,pumpkin home decor,diy pumpkins,diy fall decor.
september is here, and you know what THAT means...
it's time for sweater weather AND sweater pumpkins!!!

i've been making + selling my Original Sweet Sweater Pumpkins TM since 2007,
and while i haven't sold any since i had my little hwf shop in 2017,
i occasionally still make new versions!
in 2021 i made a batch of new yellow 'sweeties' for myself, 
and this year after creating a huge new multicolor batch for my daughter Bethany,
i've made a revision to the way i finish them...

continue reading for a quick addition to my original tutorial...

8.01.2023

fall favorites: ALL of the pumpkins!

diy pumpkins,pumpkins,fall,DIY,diy decorating,up-cycling,re-purposing,painting,home decor,colorful home,original designs,trash to treasure,tutorial,fall home decor,fall decorating,fall decor,pumpkin decor,pumpkin decorating,Sweet Sweater Pumpkins,glass globe pumpkins,Original Sweet Sweater Pumpkins,fall pumpkins.
well, here we are in August already...
a month that i always think of as 'summer's golden hour'.
and fall is just around the corner. 
i LOVE summertime and am always sad to see the season go,
and usually i keep creating + sharing 'summer' content this month...
but i know everyone out there is ready for fall and all that comes with it.
and that means PUMPKINS!!!!

have you heard the voice clip on Instagram that goes 
"Do *I* like pumpkins??? Yeah. Yeah, I like pumpkins!!!!"

not only does it describe me, but the voice actually SOUNDS like me!
(it isn't me, but it's a bit eerie hearing it all over social media every fall!)
so yeah, i like pumpkins. i've collected them all of my life,
and i REALLY i like making pumpkins
out of just about any element + material i can find...

from painted tin cans to silvery trays, rusty metal junk, and copper kitchen scrubbies
to sweaters and yarn and lace and macrame' and even balloons,
from faux painted concrete, terra cotta, kintsugi, and Pyrex + china patterns,
to ping pong paddles, plant pots, wire waste baskets, picture frames, books, and paper,
i've made DOZENS of pumpkins over the past three decades...
and i'm sharing a link to ALLLLL of them!


i hope these projects inspire you to try a few new DIY pumpkin projects this fall!


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7.19.2023

tropical tiki transformation

beach style,coastal style,colorful home,DIY,diy decorating,home decor,on the porch,outdoors,summer,tiki style,tropical style,wreaths,painting,re-purposing,up-cycling, painted plastic tiki mask,outdoor tiki decor,outdoor decor.
our backyard in Southern California underwent a transformation back in 2020....
when the pandemic shutdown happened and we had to cancel our trip to Kauai, Hawaii,
we decided to bring Hawaii to us!
i shared some of those backyard diy projects here on the blog back then
(the bamboo tiki bar, the tiki totem pole, and others - all linked below this post).

the project i'm sharing today wasn't a planned one - 
i saw something in a store and thought 'hmnn. that COULD look really good if i....'
and so i bought the item, brought it home, and worked some magic on it with paint.

it couldn't have been easier to transform a really cheap looking tiki mask
into something with much more of our own tropical style.

continue reading to see how it started... and how it's going now!

6.21.2023

display seashells in a gumball machine!

summer,beach style,coastal style,seashells,painting,DIY,diy decorating,colorful home,decorating,re-purposing,up-cycling,thrifted,beach souvenirs,seashell collections,seashell displays, gumball machine.
if you're a beach lover like me,
collecting & displaying seashells is a top summertime activity!

i've share many ideas before (linked below this post)
and now i have a different way to show off your shells
by using an unconventional container...

...continue reading for this easy paint & display project!

5.31.2023

inflatable ring summer wreath

summer, wreaths, beach style, coastal style, colorful home, DIY, diy decorating, home decor, Sweet Sweater Sandbabies, re-purposing, up-cycling, tutorial, pool inner tube wreath, inflatable ring wreath, summer home decor, diy summer decor, summer door decor, summer wreath
it's finally time for some summer fun,
and i have a fun way to set the mood right at your front door - 
display a welcoming wreath made from an inflatable pool ring!

i've added one of my own Original Sweet Sweater Sandbabies TM and a sign,
but this idea lends itself to so many interpretations
i know you can round up some beach toys, pool toys, flip flops, 
and other accessories to make a one-of-a-kind wreath for your home!

continue reading for my easy tutorial...

4.12.2023

NEW! Sweet Sweater Potz!

spring, garden style, flowers, DIY, diy decorating, Sweet Sweater Originals, Sweet Sweater Potz, sweaters, crafting, decorating, re-purposing, up-cycling, trash to treasure, flower pots, plant pots, tutorial
spring has sprung! 
one of my favorite passages in the Bible speaks of spring the way i think of it:

"For now the winter is past; the rain is over and gone.
The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing birds has come,
and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land.
The fig tree forms its early fruit; the blossoming vines spread their fragrance."
Song of Solomon 2:11-13

watching nature come back to life after a long cold winter revives me.
especially in a weird weather year like this one
(endless rain. snowing at DISNEYLAND! tornado near Los Angeles!),
i am always happy when spring finally arrives...
and if it doesn't arrive soon enough for me, i just create my own kind of spring vibe!

my newest Sweet Sweater Original TM creation is a nod to springtime
that i'll be enjoying for the next few months...

continue reading to see how simply you can create my Sweet Sweater Potz!

3.29.2023

garden light mushrooms

spring,DIY,diy decorating,home decor,colorful home,garden,garden art,garden style,crafting,dollar store crafts,up-cycling,re-purposing,spring home decor,spring garden decor,tutorial,garden lights,mushrooms,garden light mushrooms.
this month i have shared a bunch of ideas for creating and decorating with mushrooms.
this last one is kinda' sneaked into the blog lineup...
perfect for your yard OR indoors, these mushrooms lamps
are whimsical ways to repurpose household items
while you light up your summer evenings.

continue reading to see what inspired them and my easy tutorial...

3.18.2023

she made mushrooms from WHAT??!!!

spring,DIY,diy decorating,home decor,colorful home,crafting,up-cycling,re-purposing,garden style,just for fun,tutorial,spring home decor,mushrooms,spring crafts.
it's my birthday month - and when you combine that with my crazy theme of 

March Mushroom Madness  

you come up with this festive creation!
since my bday is this week, i decided this is the right time to share them!

have you figured out what i used to make them yet?

continue reading to see the details...

3.11.2023

pom pom mushrooms

spring,crafting,home decor,colorful home,DIY,diy decorating,dollar store crafts,up-cycling,re-purposing,just for fun,spring home decor,spring mushrooms,mushrooms,pom pom crafts, pom pom mushrooms,pom pom projects,tutorial.
pom poms are having a MOMENT, my friends...
showing up in the fashion world, in huge art installations, and home decor.
while most of them are WILD expressions of texture and color,
i wanted to incorporate pom poms in a more limited palette
(yesssss, i DO mean yellow! - because why not?!)

and since my recent mushroom-creating kick has led to

March Mushroom Madness

i found a way to make pom pom 'shroomies!

...continue reading to see how EASY they are!

2.27.2023

thrifted knit beanie mushrooms

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you've heard of March Madness, yes? 
i may be pushing that description by embarking on my own twist:

March Mushroom Madness!

i've had some new 'shroom ideas rolling around in my noggin' for awhile now,
and i decided that since March is my birthday month,
i can do whatever i want. so mushrooms it is!
yep, all month long, you'll see the things that have been growing
in my super-charged imagination. 
(hold on tight, and keep your hands and arms inside the vehicle at all times!)

up first, my easy-peasy tutorial for making these happy mushrooms
using thrifted knit beanies and cheap ceramic vases!

continue reading for all of the details!

11.15.2022

salvaged wire fan fall wreath

fall,wreaths,pumpkins,wall art,paper crafts,dollar store crafts,re-purposing,up-cycling,tutorial,DIY,diy decorating,decorating,Thanksgiving,Thanksgiving wreath,Thanksgiving wall art,DIY pumpkin and leaf wreath.
i don't just make things from repurposed materials - 
i re-use the things i MAKE, too!

this wreath includes two of my recent fall decor projects
PLUS an element that i used several years ago (posts linked below)
to create a new look for this November.
perfect for a front door or hanging on a wall in your home,
it's an easy project perfect for these fall days.

continue reading for the easy details...

9.20.2022

pumpkins + mushrooms = 'shroomkins!

fall,pumpkins,painting,tutorial,home decor,colorful home,DIY,diy decorating,decorating,re-purposing,mushrooms, 'shroomkins,pumpkin mushrooms,fall home decor,autumn home decor,diy pumpkins,diy pumpkin decor.
last spring, when i created my new Original Sweet Sweater 'Shrooms,
i ALSO had the idea for this project. i just ran outta' time to make them!
 and forgive me, but i gotta' be honest
and say that they are one of my FAVORITE creations ever!

since mushrooms are still having a moment,
and pumpkins are my JAM, i combined the two
to create these whimsical fall decor pieces
that i'm calling " 'shroomkins"

continue reading to learn how to make these -
from cheap styrofoam pumpkins and a pool noodle!

9.13.2022

NEW! Pyrex pumpkins

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what happens when a girl's been surfing Insta too much because she's hiding from the heat,
and is following five or six collectors of Pyrex?

said girl decides to let their collections and her own pieces inspire some
Pyrex pattern painted pumpkins
(try to say that three times fast!!!)

last year, my sweet lifelong friend Miss Kim
(yes, she of the Farmhouse Makeover!) sent me a thoughtful gift
of some happy 'Vintage Charm' Pyrex-inspired bowls in sunny yellow:
fall,pumpkins,painting,tutorial,home decor,colorful home,DIY,diy decorating,decorating,re-purposing,fall home decor, autumn home decor,diy fall decor,painted pumpkins,diy pumpkin painting,Pyrex,Pyrex patterns,Pyrex pattern pumpkins.
they sit in my studio holding miscellaneous tidbits,
and one day i looked at them and had the brainstorm to replicate them on pumpkins.

i started painting dish patterns on pumpkins a few years ago,
when the blue and white Chinoiserie trend hit...
that's not my vibe, so i made decor that IS my vibe!
this is just one more way i'm incorporating what i already have into new decor ideas.

wanna' see how easy this project was? continue reading!

9.06.2022

NEW! faux 'sand' painted pumpkins

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let's just jump right in to pumpkin season, shall we?
during my summer break, i let my creativity + imagination run wild,
which resulted in a bunch of fun new pumpkin decor projects for 2022.

first up, a new idea that is the perfect transition from summer to fall:
faux 'sand' painted pumpkins

if you're a beach lover like me, or a tropical / tiki culture lover like me,
or perhaps a 'coastal grandmother' like me??! ha!
this idea may be the perfect way to bring some beach vibes home...

continue reading for my easy paint tutorial!

8.26.2022

DIY boho pumpkin decor tutorials

boho style is still going strong in decor trends,
so i thought i'd share three currently popular boho tutorials here on the blog:

Faux Terra Cotta Painted Pumpkins
Lace Pumpkins   Lace/Doily - Embellished Pumpkins

continue reading for links to these budget-friendly tutorials - and more!

8.15.2022

Deb's top three pumpkin tutorials

tutorials, fall, pumpkins, diy, home decor, diy decorating, painting, sweater pumpkins, concrete pumpkins, glass globe pumpkins, original creations,  homewardFOUND decor
it's still summertime,
but i know many of you are looking for diy ideas for your fall decor, so....
here are my three top pumpkin tutorials:

Sweet Sweater Pumpkins
Faux Concrete Painted Pumpkins
Glass Globe Pumpkins

continue reading for links to these budget-friendly tutorials - and more!